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Here's the "before" pictures to document the condition of the boat before we started this project.

Holograms in gel-coat
The below picture is a full size section cropped out of the above resized picture. The lines you see running back and forth across where the flash from my camera is lighting up the side of the hull are holograms from a rotary buffer.

Holograms in gel-coat
The below picture is a full size section cropped out of the above resized picture. The lines you see running back and forth across where the flash from my camera is lighting up the side of the hull are holograms from a rotary buffer.

These graphics that spell out Shearwater are a soft form of plastic that feels like rubber. If you run a buffing pad on a rotary buffer over them you will harm them and even disfigure them.

All of the gel-coat in and around these graphics will have to be addressed very carefully.

Water Spot Stains & Oxidation
Not only is the entire hull filled with holograms from the misuse of a rotary buffer, (the normal practice by most boat detailers), the gel-coat is also oxidized and covered with water spot stains.

Oxidized Gel-coat
The top side is oxidized from exposure to the sun. The white gel-coat cap has no gloss, shine or reflection. Gel-coat in this condition is very porous and will tend to deteriorate even faster than gel-coat that is smooth, glossy and sealed with wax.

Because the sides of this boat are filled with holograms, more than likely from someone finishing while using a wool pad on a rotary buffer, chances are VERY good that the top side is also filled with holograms it's just with the oxidation and because the gel-coat is white we can't see the holograms. That doesn't meant they are not there, it just means we can't see them. We still have to remove them.

While a portion of our team was doing the sanding and compounding, some of the other guys were using the Rupes TA50 with microfiber cutting discs to remove the oxidation, stains and water spots around the lettering for the word Shearwater.

Question?How do you work in small, tight areas?

These graphics that spell out Shearwater are a soft form of plastic that feels like rubber.

If you run a FULL SIZE wool cutting pad on a rotary buffer over them you will harm them and even disfigure them.

Answer...The Rupes TA50 to the rescue! - I LOVE THIS TOOL!

I've been buffing out cars all my life and I've been waiting for a mini tool like this for doing intricate work and after using one time to remove oxidation I LOVE this tool

This is a must have tool if you buff a lot of cars and have an air compressor... check it out...

First we took a 6" Meguiar's DMX6 DA Microfiber Xtra Cut Disc and cut 2" discs out of it.

After compounding the side of the hull to remove the scratches next up we switch to foam pads and Flex 3401 Forced Rotation & Forced Oscillation polishers to machine polish the gel-coat.

Gerald
This was Gerald's first time using a Flex 3401 but he picked up on it like a duck to water.

Robert
We started out using the White Hybrid pads but after some testing found the more aggressive Blue Light Cutting Hybrid pads were both cleaning up the swirls left by the wool pads AND leaving behind a better, more clear finish than the softer foam pads.

Just to note... gel-coats don't react to polishing like clear coat paints so you have to think outside the box and do some testing to dial in a process that works for you and your boat.

LOOK AT THE REFLECTIONS!
If you look past Robert and down the side of the boat, look at how nice the finish is coming out and we haven't even waxed her yet!

Polish Residue
Besides buffing, we always need help wiping...

Gerald to the rescue....

Teamwork
Check out this shot, first there's John polishing up front, then Jay in the middle, followed by Chris!

Speed Setting
For machine applying a non-cleaning finishing wax, you don't need nor want the fast speed setting but instead just enough speed to maintain light pad rotating and that's just to make it easier to move the pad over the surface. For the Porter Cable this would be the 4-5 speed setting.

Mark you backing plate
Always mark your backing plate to make it easy for your eyes to verify that it's rotating. This is more important when compounding, polishing and using a one-step cleaner/wax than it is when using a finishing wax like we're using for this project.

John's turn...
Hey when you fly all the way from India and show up at Autogeek's Show Car Garage I'm going to put you to work.

First a quick lesson on correct machine waxing technique...

Your turn!

Meanwhile back on the farm Chris takes a Selfie...

Wax on - Wax off!
After letting the wax fully dry it's time to carefully wipe it off....

Remember the sides of this boat were WHITE with zero reflection when we started!

To help your memory....

Water Spot Stains & Oxidation
Not only is the entire hull filled with holograms from the misuse of a rotary buffer, (the normal practice by most boat detailers), the gel-coat is also oxidized and covered with water spot stains.

While some of us were sanding, compounding, polishing and waxing the hull the rest of were working top side.

For the top side or cap of the boat we used the Marine 31 All-In-One Gel Coat Polish & Wax with Thick Purple Foamed Wool Pads on the powerful Flex 3401 Forced Rotation, Forced Oscillation dual action polishers.

Serge
This was Serge's first time to one of our Thursday night projects and his first time using a Flex 3401. Serge is restoring a 1970's Glastron ski boat.

Chris
Here's Chris helping out with the cap...

Den
Here's Den working on the inside of the cap. Notice how we taped-off all the NON-SKID surfaces with 3M Painter's Tape? Thats so we would not creme over this textured surface with compounds, polishes and waxes as it could embedded or impact into the non-skid surface and then we'd have to clean it out.

Den by the way is not only a regular with us for our Thursday night projects but built and polished this old 2-door Pontiac.

Chris
Chris is like a "floater" that is he has both the skill and experience to tackle any part of any project we're working on so he tends to float around and tackle anything that might be un-noticed. Thanks Chris!

John
In the background John contemplates his life and thinks about buying and restoring his dream car a 1987 Yugo.

Den
Here's Den applying a second coat of wax for extra protection and gloss using a Griot's Garage 3" Mini Polisher with Marine 31 Gel-Coat Carnauba Wax + Sealant. Den shows his professionalism by removing his shoes so as not to leave any shoe marks on the non-skid from his street shoes. :xyxthumbs:

Eric & Gary
The Eisenglass, (flexible plastic windows), was very cloudy and scuffed when this boat arrived so I put the owner Eric and his buddy to work machine polishing the plastic to restore clarity.

You talking to me pal?

Metal Polishing the EASY WAY!
The stainless steel prop has the beginning signs of rust, these props are very expensive so my advice to boat owners is anytime you have your boat out of the water, take a few minutes to quickly polish the prop to clean it and protect it.

Eric is using Marine 31 Stainless Steel and Aluminum Brightening Soap which is probably the easiest metal polish and metal polishing method to clean, polish and protect all metal surfaces.

Here's how easy it is...

1. Start by getting the included sponge wet with water and then wring it out.